¤ I have an oracle function that looks like this:
¤
¤ AuthenticateUser(UserName IN VARCHAR2, pPassword IN VARCHAR2, AppName IN
¤   VARCHAR2) RETURN VARCHAR2
¤
¤ Using the Oracle client provider, I'm setting up my command text as:
¤ :results = call AuthenticateUser(:username, :password, :appname)
¤
¤ I then add parameters as follows:
¤
¤ OracleParameter p = new OracleParameter("results", OracleType.VarChar);
¤ p.Direction = System.Data.ParameterDirection.ReturnValue;
¤ p.Size = 255
¤ xcmd.Parameters.Add(p);
¤ xcmd.CommandText = _authenticateCall;
¤ xcmd.Parameters.Add(new OracleParameter("username",
¤    OracleType.VarChar)).Value = "abc";
¤ xcmd.Parameters.Add(new OracleParameter("password",
¤    OracleType.VarChar)).Value = "123";
¤ xcmd.Parameters.Add(new OracleParameter("application",
¤    OracleType.VarChar)).Value = "Test";
¤
¤ However, when I execute the command, I get an ORA-01036: illegal
¤ variable name/number exception.
¤
¤ If I leave out the :results paramater from both the command text and
¤ don't add it to the parameters of the command, then I can call the
¤ function w/o the exception. So it seems like .Net can't figure out how
¤ to bind my parameters correctly (this is more or less confirmed by the
¤ stacktrace of the exception).
¤
¤ In every example I've seen, this is the recommended way of calling a
¤ function. What am I missing that would make it bind the return parameter
¤ correctly?

Just a WAG, what if you change the name of your output parameter?

Also, I don't think I've ever seen a working example that uses an Oracle function to return a value.
Can you use a stored proc instead?

Paul
~~~~
Microsoft MVP (Visual Basic)